What makes a plant rare? This is a question I have often been asked when I share that I have an online shop offering rare houseplants. At first I was somewhat shocked at the question, and didn't really know what to say. I explained to them what I had learned over the years that I have been collecting houseplants, and realized that this is a rather niche topic that is foreign to many.
This post is the first in a series I will be releasing focusing on all things rare houseplants for beginner plant collectors.
Indoor houseplants have long been cherished for their ability to bring a touch of nature into our homes. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, they also offer numerous health benefits and contribute to a calming atmosphere. While common houseplants like spider plants and many pothos are readily available and affordable, there exists a fascinating world of rare indoor plants that captivates the hearts of enthusiasts and collectors alike. You won't find these plants in your local plant nurseries, or even many large online shops. Keep reading to learn why some houseplants are considered "rare" and consequently come with higher price tags.
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Limited Availability: One of the primary factors contributing to the rarity and higher cost of certain indoor houseplants is their limited availability. These plants may be native to specific regions or have unique growing conditions that make them challenging to propagate on a large scale. They may have recently been discovered as a new species. As a result, nurseries and growers produce limited quantities, driving up demand and subsequently their price.
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Slow Growth and Propagation: Many rare indoor plants have slower growth rates and can be difficult to propagate. This makes it harder for growers to produce a significant number of plants to meet demand. These plants might require specialized care, precise conditions, or lengthy timeframes to produce viable offspring, further contributing to their scarcity.
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Unique Aesthetic and Features: Rare indoor houseplants often boast unique aesthetics, such as distinctive leaf patterns, vibrant colors, or intriguing shapes. These distinctive features make them highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts looking to add an element of novelty to their indoor gardens. Not all plants were created equally - even within the same type of houseplant, some have better variegation than others, for example. The pursuit of owning a plant with uncommon characteristics contributes to the higher prices associated with these specimens.
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High Demand and Collector Culture: The world of indoor gardening has evolved into a collector's culture, where enthusiasts seek out rare and exotic plants to expand their collections. The growing popularity of social media platforms has fueled this trend, with Instagram and Pinterest showcasing the beauty of uncommon houseplants. As demand grows, so does the value of these rare plants, turning them into coveted commodities.
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Shipping and Import Costs: Certain rare indoor houseplants originate from distant corners of the world. The cost of shipping and importing these plants, coupled with the need for specialized packaging and care during transit, can significantly contribute to their overall price. Factors like import regulations, quarantine procedures, and the need for phytosanitary certificates further inflate the cost of these plants.
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Trendiness and Exclusivity: Trends play a pivotal role in influencing the demand and prices of rare indoor plants. When a specific plant becomes trendy due to its appearance in interior design magazines, celebrity homes, or influencer posts, its desirability skyrockets. The exclusivity associated with owning a trendy, hard-to-find plant makes some wholesale plant providers raise prices exorbitantly which creates a sense of status and uniqueness.
CASE STUDY: Pink Princess Philodendron
The transformation of a rare plant into a common one is a captivating phenomenon that showcases the dynamic nature of the houseplant community. Take, for instance, the Pink Princess Philodendron—an illustrative example of this transition. Once a plant that occasionally lived in your local plant nursery, without much notice by passersby. But in 2020 (if not earlier), prices skyrocketed, to several hundred dollars per cutting. The massive overnight demand for these plants caused a huge supply and demand problem, causing your friendly neighborhood plant person to make hundreds if not thousands of dollars from their single Pink Princess. This was in fact the first rare plant I "invested" in. I purchased one in early 2021 for nearly $300. A fully-rooted, 3-leafed plant, and I not only thought I was getting a good deal, I was.. at the time. Pink Princesses gradually shed its rarity as certain plant providers started releasing their tissue culture plants for sale. Tissue culture, a process that involves growing plant cells in a controlled environment, proved instrumental in rapidly propagating the Pink Princess Philodendron on a larger scale. Over time, the increased availability resulting from tissue culture efforts led to a decline in its market value. The journey of the Pink Princess Philodendron—from scarcity to attainability—spotlights the unique supply and demand issues involving houseplants.
A Note on Deforestation
When a new plant species is discovered in the wild, and the internet catches wind of it, people in the area of the plant are often encouraged to find and sell the plants that have been growing in the wild. This is a huge problem for the ecosystems in those areas. To learn more, check out the Bad Seeds podcast with Summer Rayne Oakes.
Conclusion
The allure of rare indoor houseplants lies not only in their unique appearance and features but also in the sense of exclusivity and prestige they offer to collectors and enthusiasts. The combination of limited availability, slow growth, shipping costs, and the collector culture surrounding these plants contributes to their high prices. As the world of indoor gardening continues to evolve, it's essential to appreciate both common and rare houseplants for the beauty and benefits they bring to our living spaces.